Turkmen mountain climbers effected an ascent of Ararat, having hoisted the flag of our country on the peak, which height is 5165 meters above sea level. Sportsmen from the “Agama” alpinist club were able to reach the peaks Demavend in Iran, Elbrus in Russia, Khan Tengri and Pobeda Peak in Kyrgyzstan, the same Agri Dagi (Ararat) in Turkey and other famous peaks of the planet. Therefore, this expedition became another attainment in a “piggy bank” of our mountaineers, vivid evidence of dynamic development of alpinism in Turkmenistan.
Like any large ascent, this expedition also became multistage test of sport qualities of mountain climbers. Having set up the first camp on mark at 3300 meters above-sea level, the sportsmen was going on with the performance of adaptation-training ascent up to 4200-meter height, returned back and only next day, they thoroughly settled down on mark over 4 thousand meters. Similar “maneuvers” are essential for organism to be adapted to the highland conditions. In the second camp the sportsmen anticipated a regular stage of training – “snowy trainings”, trainings on movement over slopes of Ararat, which were fully covered with snowy robe, even by mid of summer.
Actually, the storm of the peak started at two a.m in the clear but frosty weather – the temperature was fifteen degrees below zero. Stars were shining in the sky and somewhere at the foothill, one could see far lights of Dogubayazit city and the peak itself was wrapped up in clouds.
A steep slope waited the alpinists until mark at 4900 meters, when their faces were lighted with bright rays of the rising sun. By then, the wind that accompanied the mountain-climbers nearly all the remaining path took off the cap of clouds from the already quite close peak, which was brightly illuminated with the star of day. On such heights, the wind practically never drops, absolutely blowing the loose snow. Therefore, they had to go further along the edge of the mountain glacier.
Finally, at 7.30 a.m, the alpinists climbed the peak, where by a good tradition of ascents, unrolled the green cloth of the national banner. It was the most exciting and unforgettable moment of the expedition for the sportsmen, who raised high the flag of the Motherland on another peak of the planet.
The crew of 12 Turkmen sportsmen, two Australian alpinists and local guide reached the peak. Then, our mountain climbers had to pass the way back till the second and then, first base camps – from frosty winter on the peak to the summer, reigning at the Ararat foothill, and further – the way from Dogubayazit to native Ashgabat.
Such patriotic actions, when the flag of independent Turkmenistan is raised on the highest peaks of our country and abroad, became a bright example of development of sports in the country, including its such extreme types as alpinism and rock climbing, serve for promotion of healthy life-style.
This year, the sport calendar of the Turkmen alpinists is quite rich. In February, it was organized the ascent of the highest peak of Turkmenistan –the Ayrybaba peak timed to Flag Day of the country. By the way members of the team for ascent of Ararat were selected just in the course of this winter expedition in the severe conditions of highland, having experienced the test in deep snow and law temperature. In spring, within the framework of Week of health and happiness expanded all over Turkmenistan, individual championship of the “Agama” alpinist club on sport rock climbing over artificial rock in the “Demiryolchi” sport complex and natural slopes of the Archabil gorge was held. The Children’s rocky festival was timed to Child Protection Day. During this festival, tens of young alpinists made the first steps in sport under supervision of experienced masters.
The next large sport action, which is planned by the Turkmen mountaineers – mass heat to the Markau Mountain in the vicinity of Ashgabat to which it is traditionally attracted the youth, representatives of work collectives, many adherents of healthy life-style, who familiarize with beauty of Turkmen mountains. Of course, numerous alpinist assemblies and ascents by routes laid over the Dushak-Erikdag Mountain and its vicinities, which trained many tens of Turkmen mountaineers will continue.
Like any large ascent, this expedition also became multistage test of sport qualities of mountain climbers. Having set up the first camp on mark at 3300 meters above-sea level, the sportsmen was going on with the performance of adaptation-training ascent up to 4200-meter height, returned back and only next day, they thoroughly settled down on mark over 4 thousand meters. Similar “maneuvers” are essential for organism to be adapted to the highland conditions. In the second camp the sportsmen anticipated a regular stage of training – “snowy trainings”, trainings on movement over slopes of Ararat, which were fully covered with snowy robe, even by mid of summer.
Actually, the storm of the peak started at two a.m in the clear but frosty weather – the temperature was fifteen degrees below zero. Stars were shining in the sky and somewhere at the foothill, one could see far lights of Dogubayazit city and the peak itself was wrapped up in clouds.
A steep slope waited the alpinists until mark at 4900 meters, when their faces were lighted with bright rays of the rising sun. By then, the wind that accompanied the mountain-climbers nearly all the remaining path took off the cap of clouds from the already quite close peak, which was brightly illuminated with the star of day. On such heights, the wind practically never drops, absolutely blowing the loose snow. Therefore, they had to go further along the edge of the mountain glacier.
Finally, at 7.30 a.m, the alpinists climbed the peak, where by a good tradition of ascents, unrolled the green cloth of the national banner. It was the most exciting and unforgettable moment of the expedition for the sportsmen, who raised high the flag of the Motherland on another peak of the planet.
The crew of 12 Turkmen sportsmen, two Australian alpinists and local guide reached the peak. Then, our mountain climbers had to pass the way back till the second and then, first base camps – from frosty winter on the peak to the summer, reigning at the Ararat foothill, and further – the way from Dogubayazit to native Ashgabat.
Such patriotic actions, when the flag of independent Turkmenistan is raised on the highest peaks of our country and abroad, became a bright example of development of sports in the country, including its such extreme types as alpinism and rock climbing, serve for promotion of healthy life-style.
This year, the sport calendar of the Turkmen alpinists is quite rich. In February, it was organized the ascent of the highest peak of Turkmenistan –the Ayrybaba peak timed to Flag Day of the country. By the way members of the team for ascent of Ararat were selected just in the course of this winter expedition in the severe conditions of highland, having experienced the test in deep snow and law temperature. In spring, within the framework of Week of health and happiness expanded all over Turkmenistan, individual championship of the “Agama” alpinist club on sport rock climbing over artificial rock in the “Demiryolchi” sport complex and natural slopes of the Archabil gorge was held. The Children’s rocky festival was timed to Child Protection Day. During this festival, tens of young alpinists made the first steps in sport under supervision of experienced masters.
The next large sport action, which is planned by the Turkmen mountaineers – mass heat to the Markau Mountain in the vicinity of Ashgabat to which it is traditionally attracted the youth, representatives of work collectives, many adherents of healthy life-style, who familiarize with beauty of Turkmen mountains. Of course, numerous alpinist assemblies and ascents by routes laid over the Dushak-Erikdag Mountain and its vicinities, which trained many tens of Turkmen mountaineers will continue.
